Electric douche

ABSTRACT

An electric douche has a generally cylindrical housing that may be quickly coupled to the neck portion of a douche bag. The housing contains a motor-driven pump for drawing the douching fluid out of the bag and discharging the same through a hose having a nozzle on its other end. A low-voltage switch is located substantially on the end of the hose, adjacent to the nozzle, for remote control of the electric douche.

1 United States Patent 1 91 1111 3,794,31 Bloom Feb. 26, 1974 [541ELECTRIC DOUCHE 2,908,273 10/1959 Huston 1. 128/251 [75] Inventor:Leonard Bloom, Towson, Md. 222:5 128,66 UX 3 Assignee: Jerome I. Rebold,Timonium, 3,508,546 4/1970 Rogers et al 128/230 a part interest PrimaryExaminerRichard A. Gaudet [22] Flled' 1972 Assistant Examiner.l. Yasko[21] Appl. No.: 238,912

[57] ABSTRACT l28/23A0kl1I2n8/l2/31) An electric douFhe has a generallycylindrical housing 58 d 51 66 241 that may be quickly coupled to theneck portion of a 1 o are l douche bag. The housing contains amotor-driven pump for drawing the douching fluid out of the bag [56]References Cited and discharging the same through a hose having a noz'UNITED STATES PATENTS zle on its other end. A low-voltage switch islocated 2,139,653 12/1938 Belfrage 128/241 substantially on the end ofthe hose, adjacent to the 2/1956 Kabnickl l28/230 nozzle, for remotecontrol of the electric douche. 3,653,377 4/1972 Rebold [28/2302,802,466 8/1957 Thomas 128/241 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures ELECTRICDOUCIIE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of the presentinvention to provide an electric douche which is safe, compact,economical, and convenient to use.

In accordance with the broad teachings of the present invention, anelectric douche includes a douche bag constituting a reservoir ofdouching fluid. The bag is substantially closed and has a central neckportion with an opening formed therein. The electric douche furtherincludes a housing which is attached directly to the opening in thedouche bag. A quick-disconnect means is provided between the bag and thehousing, whereby the housing may be quickly and conveniently connectedto the bag, with a water-tight seal being formed therebetween. A pumpdriven by an electric motor is disposed in the housing for drawing thedouching fluid out of the bag. A hose is connected to the pump, and anozzle is on the end of the hose remote from the bag and housing. Inthis manner, the user need only hold the nozzle during operation of theelectric douche.

In accordance with the further teachings of the present invention, alow-voltage switch is located substantially on the end of the hose,adjacent to the nozzle, for remote control of the electric douche.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following drawings and detailed description:

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall perspectiveview of the electric douche of the present invention, the view showingthe douche bag, the housing for the pump and motor, hose, and nozzle.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the housing, taken along the lines2-2 of FIG. 1, the view showing an interference or snap fit between thehousing and the neck portion of the bag, thereby providing a preferredquick-disconnect means.

FIG. 3 corresponds to a portion of FIG. 2, but shows a suitable threadedconnection between the housing and bag, thereby providing an alternatequickdisconnect means.

FIG. 4 is a partial longitudinal section of the end of the hose,substantially adjacent to the nozzle, showing the low-voltage switch forsafer remote control of the electric douche.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the nozzle, showing its connection withthe end of the hose, and further showing the substantially cup-shapedshield in section, the shield being adjustable along the elongated shankof the nozzle.

FIG. 6 is a section view, taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 2, andshowing one of the spring clips for holding the low-voltage wires ontothe hose.

FIG. 7 is a section view, corresponding to FIG. 6, but showing thelow-voltage wires integrally molded within the hose.

FIG. 8 corresponds to a portion of FIG. 2, but shows the hose beingprovided with prongs to be received within openings in the housing,thereby making electrical contact for the control switch, thearrangement allowing the subassembly of the hose, wires, and switch tobe removed from the housing and thus replaceable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to FIG. ll, there is illustrated theelectric douche 10 of the present invention, including a douche bag 11constituting a reservoir of douching fluid. The bag may be molded fromrubber, vinyl, or any suitable material, and is adapted to closelyresemble the manual douche bags which employ a gravity feed of thedouching fluid. The electric douche further comprises a housing 12connected to the bag, a hose 13 connected to the housing, and a nozzle14 on the end of the hose.

With reference to FIG. 2, the housing 12 is generally cylindrical, andcomprises housing portions 12a and 12b. Housing portion 12a contains oneor more batteries 15, while housing portion 12b contains an electricmotor 16 and a pump 17. Housing portion 12b is substantially sealed andis separated from housing portion 12a by means of an internal wall 18.Housing portion 12a has an internal annular recess 19a adapted tocooperate with an external annular protrusion 1% formed on housingportion 12b. In this manner, housing portion 12a may be quickly removedfrom housing portion 12b for ready access to the batteries, and thenquickly connected to housing portion 12b by means of an interference orsnap fit. As shown, the batteries 15 are of the disposable or throw-awaytype; however, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatthe teachings of the present invention are equally applicable torechargeable batteries or to special adapters for operating the electricdouche from a plug-in receptacle.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the batteries 15 may be separated by adivider wall 20, and the batteries engage respective spring terminals 21and 22 for making ultimate electrical connection to contacts 23a and 23bmounted on the wall 18. A first wire lead 24 connects contact 23a toterminal 25a of motor 16; a second wire lead 26 is connected to contact23b; and a third wire lead 27 is connected to the other motor terminal25b. The wires 26 and 27 run along the housing, emerge therefrom througha grommet 28, and run along the length of the hose l3; and are securedto the hose by means of several spaced clips, one of which is shown asat 29 in FIG. 2.

With reference again to FIG. 2, the motor 16 has a shaft 30 for drivingthe pump 17. The pump includes an inlet tube 31 extending into the bag11 for drawing douching fluid out of the bag and discharging the samethrough an outlet tube 32 on which the end of the hose 13 is mounted.

The douche bag 11 is substantially closed and is provided with a centralneck portion 33 having an opening 34 formed therein. Quick-disconnectmeans is provided between the housing 12 and the bag 11', thisquick-disconnect means includes an external annular protrusion 35 formedon the housing 12 and adapted to cooperate with an internal annulargroove 36 formed within the neck portion 33 of the douche bag. Thecooperating annular groove and protrusion have a slight interferencefit, so that the housing 12 may be quickly snapped into and out of thedouche bag 11, yet provide a substantially water-tight sealtherebetween.

With reference to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of thequick-disconnect means comprises threads 37 formed on the the housing 12for engagement with corresponding internal threads formed within theneck portion 33 of the douche bag.

With reference to FIG. 4, and with further reference to FIG. 5, alow-voltage control switch 38 is located substantially between thenozzle means and the end of the hose 13 for remote control of theelectric douche. Preferably, the switch 38 is mounted on the end of thehose l8 and comprises a sliding switch button 39 having a contact 40adapted to bridge terminals 41a and 41b connected to wires 26 and 27,respectively. The wires 26 and 27, as previously noted, run along thelength of the hose l3 and are retained thereto by spaced clips 29, oneof which is shown in FIG. 6. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, the wires 26and 27 may be integrally molded within the hose 13, if desired.

In this manner, only the nozzle 14 need be held during operation of theelectric douche; the electric douche may be turned on'and off by meansof the remote control switch 38; and the switch 38 is of the lowvoltagetype for reasons of electrical safety.

After usage of the electric douche, the housing 12 may be quicklyremoved from the douche bag 11 by means of the quick-disconnect means;the nozzle 14 (if desired) may be removed from the hose l3; and the hosewith its wires 26 and 27 may be coiled around the housing 12 forconvenient storage in a suitable kit or container.

With reference to FIG. 8, the end of the hose 13 engaging the outlettube 32 of the pump may be provided with prongs 42a and 42b connected tothe wires 26 and 27, respectively, and adapted for engagement withsuitable sockets 42c and 42d, respectively, for making electricalcontact with the wires directly at the housing. In this manner, even thehose may be removed from the housing for convenient storage, as well asmore convenient replacement as a serviceable part.

With reference again to FIG. 5, the nozzle 14 includes flutes 43 withopenings 44 for discharge of the douching fluid, and further includes anelongated tubular shank portion 45 connected to the hose 13 adjacent tothe remote-control switch 38. A shield means comprising a substantiallycup-shaped element 46 is slidably mounted on the elongated shank 45 ofthe nozzle, between the discharge openings 44 and the switch 38. In thismanner, the shield means may be adapted for engagement with the vaginallips during operation of the electric douche, and its relative positionwith respect to the nozzle may be adjusted for individual comfort andconvenience by the particular user.

Obviously, various modifications may be made without departing from thespirit of the present invention; and thus within the scope of thefollowing claims, the invention may be practiced other than has beenspecifically described therein.

I claim:

1. An electric douche for feminine hygienic usage comprising acollapsible douche bag constituting a reservoir of douching fluid, thebag being substantially closed and having a central opening formedtherein, a substantially cylindrical housing adapted to be attacheddirectly to the bag, quick-disconnect means between the bag and thehousing and forming a substantially water-tight seal therebetween,whereby the housing may be quickly and conveniently connected to thebag, pumping means in the housing for drawing the douching fluid out ofthe bag, a low-voltage electric motor in the housing for driving thepumping means, a battery for energizing the motor, a hose connected tothe pumping means, a nozzle on the end of the hose remote from the bagand housing, and means adjacent to the nozzle for controlling the flowof douching fluid.

2. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein the quickdisconnect meansbetween the bag and housing comprises an interference fit.

3. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein the quickdisconnect meansbetween the bag and housing comprises a threaded connection.

4. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein the pumping means includes atube extending past the quickdisconnect means and into the bag.

5. The electric douche of claim 1, further including shield meansassociated with the nozzle, the shield means comprising a cup-shapedelement slidably mounted on the shank portion of the nozzle andadjustable along the axial length thereof.

6. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein the means for controlling theflow of douching fluid comprises a low-voltage switch locatedsubstantially on the end of the hose adjacent to the nozzle, and adaptedto remotely control the energization of the electric motor.

7. The electric douche of claim 6, further including low-voltageelectric wires running along the length of the hose to the switch.

8. The electric douche of claim 7, wherein the wires are integrallymolded within the hose.

1. An electric douche for feminine hygienic usage comprising acollapsible douche bag constituting a reservoir of douching fluid, thebag being substantially closed and having a central opening formedtherein, a substantially cylindrical housing adapted to be attacheddirectly to the bag, quick-disconnect means between the bag and thehousing and forming a substantially water-tight seal therebetween,whereby the housing may be quickly and conveniently connected to thebag, pumping means in the housing for drawing the douching fluid out ofthe bag, a lowvoltage electric motor in the housing for driving thepumping means, a battery for energizing the motor, a hose connected tothe pumping means, a nozzle on the end of the hose remote from the bagand housing, and means adjacent to the nozzle for controlling the flowof douching fluid.
 2. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein thequick-disconnect means between the bag and housing comprises aninterference fit.
 3. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein thequick-disconnect means between the bag and housing comprises a threadedconnection.
 4. The electric douche of claim 1, wherein the pumping meansincludes a tube extending past the quick-disconnect means and into thebag.
 5. The electric douche of claim 1, further including shield meansassociated with the nozzle, the shield means comprising a cup-shapedelement slidably mounted on the shank portion of the nozzle andadjustable along the axial length thereof.
 6. The electric douche ofclaim 1, wherein the means for controlling the flow of douching fluidcomprises a low-voltage switch located substantially on the end of thehose adjacent to the nozzle, and adapted to remotely control theenergization of the electric motor.
 7. The electric douche of claim 6,further including low-voltage electric wires running along the length ofthe hose to the switch.
 8. The electric douche of claim 7, wherein thewires are integrally molded within the hose.